Let’s fabricate an oil cooler takeoff.
Off-the-shelf units are always bulky. If you’re on the manufacturing and sales side, you’re stuck with the challenge of making it robust, easy to fabricate, low-risk to install, and keeping the retail price reasonable.
We don’t take on this kind of work at the shop, but I make my own anyway. For this type of work, please have a custom shop or machine shop do it. We absolutely won’t do it here.
I’m rounding off the corners of the welding adapter I ordered on the lathe.
I wonder why it’s hexagonal? Maybe it’s for holding it in place when tightening.
I’m cutting out the takeoff plate from 52 mm stock. The asymmetrical shape is due to the case side.
These two pieces—
—get welded together and we’re done. Since the mounting location is tight, I’m keeping it as compact as possible.
Here’s another one. After much deliberation, I went with the most tedious method available.
It’s like making fried rice with only what’s in the refrigerator.
After all that agonizing, I settled on a 30-degree vent! I made dummy pieces at 15, 20, and 35 degrees and test-fit them against the actual part, then combined this one—
—with this one and we’re finished.
The welding adapter melted in beautifully and felt really satisfying.
The lower side runs vertically, and the upper side goes to the right and rises up.
Since we’re running tubing for the lines this time, it should end up with a simple, mostly hidden finish.
Currently considering an oil temperature sensor and oil pressure gauge. There might be additional machining or even a complete rebuild…
